Make way for turkey bowling at Littleton's winter carnival

By SARA YOUNG-KNOXSpecial to the Union Leader

LITTLETON - The executive director of the Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce, Chad Stearns, confirmed Tuesday that the upcoming turkey bowling at Remich Park on Feb. 23 does not, repeat, does not involve any live birds.

Turkey bowling is one of the events at this year's winter carnival, taking place Saturday afternoon in Littleton. Participants test their skills at hurling a frozen turkey down a bowling lane set up at the ice rink at the park, with two-liter frozen plastic bottles standing in for the more traditional bowling pins. Stearns said the contestants, who get two tosses for the entry fee of $2, stand on a matt on the ice, and the weight of the turkeys varies.

"We will also be making donations to the local food pantries in the form of both cash and food, as to not be totally reckless with damaging food," Stearns said.

The carnival is a lot more than turkey bowling, with a snow-sculpting contest, cardboard sled races, Main Street snowmen, and more. The event harkens back to the area's winter carnivals of yore, and the more recent Frostbite Follies that were spearheaded by Jan and George Kirk.

"We are hoping that by both attending and volunteering," Stearns said, "our citizens will have themselves a truly enjoyable time, bonding with one another and benefit from this community-building experience." The chamber, he said, is rejuvenating these classic events by starting small, with the hope that area residents, their friends and visitors stop by for the fun and in turn make the event a success on which to build next winter's carnival.

Turkey bowling starts at 2 p.m., and the cardboard box sled race, also at Remich Park, runs from 1 to 3 p.m. The sleds, according to the rules on the chamber's website, may be built using the following materials: cardboard, tape, string, glue, garbage bags, and paper. Racers will be judged on the speed and creativity of their cardboard sled.

Stearns said local residents and business people are gathering snow for their sculptures, and there are people rolling those giant snowballs for their snowmen, too. No doubt others are quietly constructing their cardboard sleds in the privacy of their own homes as the day of the carnival nears.

Stearns did not report observing anyone practicing their turkey bowling, so the depth of skills of those participating will remain a mystery until Saturday afternoon.

Remich Park is located on Pleasant Street, a couple blocks off Main Street.